NEWSLETTER

OUR MISSION: To protect and preserve our natural heritage and help build an environmental culture while developing a Botanical Garden dedicated to Mexican flora and providing an oasis of peace and tranquility for all.

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BOB HAAS

On the morning of April 29th, our beloved friend, Robert Haas, died at his home in San Miguel de Allende leaving a huge void in our lives. Bob was associated with the Botanical Garden since its inception and was a leading member of its Board of Directors since 1998. Bob was always present during El Charco’s development, especially in the most difficult times, always generous and supportive. His genuine interest in environmental issues led him to various actions and commitments. For years he warned about the abatement of the aquifers of the municipality by various means and the consequences that today we are beginning to realize. Bob always sought to link the American community with the Botanical Garden, attracting significant support and donations for the environmental and conservation projects of El Charco. His gentle nature, good humor and above all his love for his adopted homeland, opened doors and he was loved by so many.

How we will miss you, Bob ..!

WAITING FOR THE RAIN….

As the dry season progresses, living beings that inhabit El Charco del Ingenio seem to use their full adaptive survival skills acquired during their ancient evolutionary process. They do this until the annual rains return, renewing life. Some plants, such as nopal and other cacti, exploit every drop of water inside their bodies designed to accumulate the vital liquid for extended periods of drought. This year, as in previous years, they look lean and flat. The shrubs and bushes - mesquite trees, huizache, palo dulce - seem to endure the harsh and prolonged drought, without foliage or flowers. Even the wetlands and its vegetation -today only a few scattered pools in the large basin of the dam - manage to withstand drought. Migratory birds have already started their annual return to the northern regions, and the few resident ducks and wetland birds are replaced daily by herons, terns and other birds as the water disappears from the dam. All of nature seems to be all waiting and, the same as the humans who stride in El Charco, all daily look at the sky to search for the first sign of rain on the horizon ...

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS IN EL CHARCO

7 modules | May 23-26 | by Erika Velázquez

2,000pesos for members2500pesos general publicReservation required with 600pesos deposit at El Charco’s Reception or by bank deposit

The objective of this course is to give the foundations of digital photography, with an emphasis on nature photography as a tool for environmental education, outreach and conservation. Erika Velazquez: Biologist from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Xochimilco. She specialized in management and medicine of wildlife (unconventional pets) in captivity. Since 2011 she has worked as a freelance photographer. Erika participated in the program of non-formal environmental education offered by the El Nido aviary and made a photographic record of the species that comprise the Conservation Breeding Centre Jesus Astudillo Lopez AC, in the State of Mexico. She was selected in the first Photo Contest "Birds of Mexico" organized by the Museum of Natural History and Environmental Culture of the Federal District under the World Bird Festival 2011. She has given classes in nature photography and has had photographic exhibitions as well as being a contributor to the journal Animalia Magazine.

Bird-watching Tours

Every first and third Wednesday of the month, 9 am – 11:30 am. English | Cost: 100 pesos general public | 60 pesos Audubon or El Charco members
Guides include Signe Hammer, Norman Besman, Luke Rich and Michael Wheatcroft.

The walks are for birders of all levels. They begin at 9:00 am and last about 2 1/2 hours. No reservations needed, and feel free to leave the walk at any time. Please bring binoculars, wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat, and bring water. Your guide will meet you after you pass through the Reception area of the Botanical Garden.

BIRDING TOURS in Spanish are available on May 11th and 25th starting at 9a.m. with Landy Orozco (Biology Director of the Garden).

Birds make each morning cheerful with their songs and colors, and allow us to know not only the ecosystem, but also to understand the changes that occur in it throughout the seasons. Their presence or absence indicates the health of different habitats and how we can help their recovery. Each of us can be a scientist walking on two Saturdays or Wednesdays a month to see the birds that visit and live in El Charco. We learn about them, have fun and at the same time contribute to the Botanical Garden.

THE WHIPTAIL LIZARDS THAT YOU SEE RUNNING….

With the change of season, many animals which have been hidden due to their biological characteristics, come to light. One of these is the striped lizard or whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis). It is a reptile in the Teiidos family, which is characterized by its very long body and tail and forked tongue, such as snakes (although thicker). These lizards tend to move in small steps on the ground and stick out their tongue "smelling" the traces left by small insects and spiders that are often their food. It’s possible to see them at work, looking very concentrated, if you stand still, but at the slightest movement they run so quickly that you can only see a small cloud of dust behind them and the noise of their passage between the dry grass. Fortunately, these interesting little lizards are still common (perhaps due to their speed to escape) in a large geographical area from New Mexico and Texas to Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Querétaro and Veracruz. Their importance for us is that they are excellent at controlling crawling insects such as cockroaches, crickets, spiders, worms, etc.. Thanks to them we don’t have an infestation of these bugs in our homes ... Help us to keep them, respecting them as beings that share this world with us. So no slingshots or throwing rocks for fun.

THE MAGNIFICENT YUCCAS

Seen from afar they seem like human bodies in strange dance positions, with their branches in all directions. As we approach, we can distinguish stiff, pointed leaves arranged in a rosette, such as agaves, but in the form of a tree. The yuccas (Yucca spp.) are succulent plants adapted to live in semi-deserts and deserts of our continent, saving precious water in their trunks. Its flowering – which in our region occurs just at this time - consists of long pendulous clusters of abundant white flowers, highly prized as food in rural communities. These plants have a very interesting association with females of a species of moth that is their pollinator. Since the yucca has both male and female flowers, the moth is responsible for carrying pollen from the former to the latter. In turn, the insect lays its eggs in the ovary of the female flower, so that the caterpillars are born at the same time the plant is producing seeds, feeding on them ... but interestingly, leaving enough for them to disperse and germinate. An amazing example of cooperation between species in the wild!

GLOBOS PROVOKE FIRE

On Saturday April 14, about 11:30 pm, pyrotechnic balloons (locally known as globos de cantoya), broke into flames on the north end of Charco, causing a fire that damaged about four acres of the ecological preserve. Despite the time of night, the Botanical Garden staff managed to put out the fire, with the support of the municipality’s fire department. After the appropriate report, the Civil Protection Department informed us and reported to some media, that it was not possible to prevent or even know who had set off the globos that landed at Charco that night and that no permit had been granted since the law expressly prohibits this practice during the dry season. The fire affected mainly an area of grassland, destroying cacti and shrubs, and damaging trees. It is clear that setting off these globos (true incendiary missiles) is an extremely risky and destructive practice, which is a felony for the perpetrator or anyone hired to do it. No tradition can justify a practice so stupid and irresponsible. No more globos in San Miguel!

LAST MONTH’S ACTIVITIES

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION (APRIL 21)

A day of action for the planet in El Charco, for children, youth and adults: ceremony, song, theater, puppetry, stilts, fandango, jarocho (music and dance from Veracruz)…

VISITORS FROM THE SEMINARY OF MEXICAN CULTURE

On Saturday April 20th we were visited by members of this national cultural organization based in Queretaro, whose interest in ancient and contemporary history of our region brought them to El Charco. Through a tour led by the director of the Botanical Garden, this group of scholars expanded their knowledge about the flora of the area, the Mexican plants of the botanical collection, but mostly they were interested in the waterworks of the colonial era, such as the water mills and aqueducts whose traces remain in the canyon.

BOTANICALS WITH GRAPHITE & COLOR ILLUSTRATION CLASS (April)

Led by the teacher Karla Beatty, as part of our collaborative program with the Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado.Watch for upcoming courses in El Charco!

OTHER ACTIVITIES IN MAY

Guided Tours in El Charco

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am | in English

Duration: two hours Cost: $80 pesos, members $50

Enjoy the coming of Spring in El Charco del Ingenio with its beautiful landscape and diverse wildlife. Discover the flowers that emerge this month on the cactus and walk the beautiful paths, giving us both exercise and a connection to nature. Visit the Conservatory of Mexican Plants, the Scented Garden and the canyon, archeological ruins and much more.

THE FULL MOON CEREMONY

Saturday May 25th | 7p.m. | Plaza of 4 Winds |

We invite everyone to this open celebration that has been taking place for many years during the full moon cycle at the Four Winds Plaza in the Botanical Garden under the always surprising direction of Alicia Mayo. It’s worth arriving a little early to admire the setting of the sun and the appearance of the moon over the mountains. You may want to bring a coat for cool evenings and you may bring a musical instrument.
Alicia Mayo : 152 .0376.

TRADITIONAL TEMAZCAL

Saturday, May 11th | 6p.m.
Saturday, May 25th | 6p.m.

This sweat-lodge steam bath, of ritual and healing character, takes place under the direction of an experienced temazcal leader in the ruins of the hacienda located in the Botanical Garden on the far side of the reservoir.
The combination of heat, humidity and fragrant herbs provides a purifying experience for the body and spirit. Its benefits are multiple: it activates circulation, increases the body’s defenses, eliminates pains, decreases uric acid, relaxes the muscles, regulates the nervous system, stimulates respiration and is excellent for losing weight.
Thanks to the participation of friends of the temazcal, parts of the ruins and surrounding area has been repaired and cleaned.

VISIT THE CAFE

In this hot season, before or after your visit we invite you to have a refreshing and therapeutic mojito “Charco” made with ginger, basil and lemon. It’s delicious!

AND THE GIFT SHOP

The Cardon ... more than just thorns!Very abundant and typical of the landscape around San Miguel, this cactus (Cylindropuntia imbricata), although a close relative of the nopal, is not generally appreciated. Its fruit is acidic, its paddles are not good as a vegetable and its spines are formidable, as it insidiously hooks your skin. However, this plant offers more than that. Besides its beautiful dark magenta flowers that adorn the drought, and their shapes which are widely used in decoration and design, it has amazing medicinal properties, known since pre-Hispanic times. The cardon heals wounds, fractures and muscular contractions, it also improves blood circulation and combats varicose veins, among other conditions.
The fair trade shop at El Charco is selling cactus ointment for these uses, plus a number of other very useful products derived from this amazing plant, all produced by communities in the region at very affordable prices. Buy any one of them and support the producers of our region!

THE LAST MINUTE!

A surprising and brief downpour late April cooled us down for a few hours in the afternoon ... It wasn’t a lot of water, but enough to bring forth some flowering of the Rain lily (Zephyranthes fosteri) at the edge of the roads and trails of Charco…